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Therapeutic potential of phytochemical compounds in cardiovascular disease: a comprehensive review
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, P.O. Box 1988, Al-Aqiq, Saudi Arabia. Kalatwai@bu.edu.sa.
Insights
Plant-derived phytochemicals show significant cardioprotective potential, offering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Further research is needed to overcome bioavailability challenges for clinical application.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Nutraceuticals
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading global cause of mortality.
- Growing interest in complementary therapies for CVDs due to concerns with conventional treatments.
- Plant-derived phytochemicals are being investigated for their potential cardioprotective effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence on the cardioprotective potential of plant-derived phytochemicals.
- To summarize the mechanisms and specific compounds with cardiovascular benefits.
- To identify challenges and future directions for phytochemicals in CVD management.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of experimental, clinical, and mechanistic studies.
- Databases searched include PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
- Review focused on publications between 2014 and 2025.
Main Results:
- Phytochemicals (flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, etc.) exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, and antihypertensive properties.
- Specific compounds like quercetin, catechins, curcumin, resveratrol, and lycopene positively impact vascular function, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism.
- Evidence suggests benefits for endothelial protection and insulin sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Plant-derived phytochemicals possess significant cardioprotective potential as adjuncts to traditional CVD therapies.
- Challenges such as bioavailability, dosage uniformity, and clinical validation need to be addressed.
- More extensive clinical research is required to establish long-term efficacy and safety.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the world's leading cause of death and a major global healthcare burden. Concerns about side effects and long-term therapy restrictions have raised interest in supplementary therapeutic approaches, even if traditional pharmaceutical and surgical procedures are still crucial to the management of CVD. Evidence from published experimental, clinical, and mechanistic investigations that were indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar between 2014 and 2025 is compiled in this review. Through their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, and endothelial-protective properties, plant-derived phytochemicals such as flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, glucosinolates, and sulfur-containing compounds have considerable cardioprotective potential. Vascular function, oxidative stress, platelet aggregation, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism have all benefited by compounds like quercetin, catechins, curcumin, resveratrol, and lycopene. However, its therapeutic translation is still constrained by issues with bioavailability, dosage uniformity, and clinical validation. Although more extensive clinical research is needed to determine their long-term efficacy and safety, the evidence now available indicates that phytochemicals may be beneficial supplements to traditional cardiovascular treatments.
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